Guwahati, 24 September (HS): The Assam Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Thursday approved a series of measures covering wetland restoration, agriculture infrastructure, industrial investment, tea workers’ bonus and welfare schemes.

The Cabinet approved the Assam Sustainable Wetland and Integrated Fisheries Transformation (SWIFT) Project at an estimated cost of ₹796.88 crore. The Asian Development Bank will provide ₹637.504 crore as loan, while the Assam government will contribute ₹159.376 crore. The project will include restoration and rehabilitation of at least 102 derelict community beels.

The Cabinet also approved an ₹11,000-crore investment proposal of JK Lakshmi Cement Limited for setting up a clinker manufacturing unit and four associated cement grinding units in Assam. The project is expected to generate around 2,000 direct jobs.

For the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), the Cabinet approved state guidelines for financial assistance towards promoters’ contribution. The government will bear the entire mandatory 10% contribution for FPOs, FPCs, PACS and cooperatives. For individual beneficiaries, including farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, startups, SHGs and JLGs, the government will bear 5%, with beneficiaries contributing the remaining 5%.

The Cabinet approved a rent-based or pro bono model for construction of a state-of-the-art laboratory and ancillary infrastructure of the Spices Board at Ulubari in Guwahati. The Agriculture Department, in coordination with PWD (B), will undertake construction according to the Spices Board’s specifications.

Other decisions included a 20% bonus for eligible workers and employees of Assam Tea Corporation Limited tea gardens and payment of minimum pay scale to 166 additional muster roll, casual and fixed-pay workers from September 1, 2026.

The Cabinet also approved subsidised sugar at ₹30 per kg for NFSA beneficiaries for October. Beneficiaries will receive masur dal and sugar for ₹100 in the month. The Orunodoi monthly assistance for October was raised from ₹1,250 to ₹1,500 as a Durga Puja gift.

October 17, 2026, was declared an additional Durga Puja holiday, besides the four holidays already notified. The Cabinet also approved ex-post facto approval for an executive order facilitating Aadhaar enrolment of eligible women members of Self-Help Groups till March 31.

The government approved allotment of 256 bighas of land at Duhalia Hill Part-IV in Sribhumi district to the Agriculture Department for establishment of a College of Agriculture at Patharkandi under Assam Agricultural University.

The Cabinet further approved a State Capital Investment Subsidy for eligible manufacturing units that qualify under the substantive provisions of the Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialization Scheme (UNNATI), 2024, but could not obtain registration within the extended deadline of September 30, 2026.

Elections to the Mising Autonomous Council and Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council will be held in November, the Cabinet decided.

It also approved allotment of 504 bighas of VGR land at Niz-Gondhmow under Hajo Revenue Circle to the Industries, Commerce and Public Enterprise Department for an industrial estate. An equivalent 504 bighas of government land at village No. 2 Dokania will be reserved as VGR land in lieu of the dereserved land.------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash